Personal care and cosmetics — dangerous goods classification
Most cosmetics are water-based and unregulated. The exceptions are alcohol-heavy products (perfume, hand sanitiser, nail polish), aerosols, and peroxide hair developers.
The mistake this category generates
An aerosol version of an unregulated product is regulated. Classify the formulation and the dispenser, not the product category.
Entries (7)
| UN | Proper shipping name | Class | PG | Labels | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN1170 | Ethanol solution | 3 | II/III — derived | FLAMMABLE LIQUID | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN1219 | Isopropanol | 3 | II | FLAMMABLE LIQUID | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN1263 | Paint or Paint related material | 3 | I/II/III — derived | FLAMMABLE LIQUID | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN1266 | Perfumery products with flammable solvents | 3 | II/III — derived | FLAMMABLE LIQUID | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN1090 | Acetone | 3 | II | FLAMMABLE LIQUID | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN1950 | Aerosols, flammable | 2.1 | none | FLAMMABLE GAS | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN2984 | Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous solution with not less than 8% but less than 20% hydrogen peroxide | 5.1 | III | OXIDIZER | pax limited·cargo permitted |
Shipper notes
UN1170 Ethanol solution
- Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is normally shipped under this entry. Gels above 24% ABV that are not beverages are Class 3; a flash point determines whether packing group II or III applies.
- Ethanol solutions with 24% or less alcohol by volume are not subject to the regulations under 49 CFR 173.150(f) when they meet the consumer-commodity conditions.
UN1219 Isopropanol
- Flash point 12 °C, so packing group II under 49 CFR 173.121 regardless of concentration once the mixture is predominantly isopropanol.
- Isopropyl alcohol solutions of 70% and 91% both fall here; dilute wipes may qualify as a limited quantity.
UN1263 Paint or Paint related material
- Covers paint, lacquer, enamel, stain, shellac, varnish, polish, liquid filler and liquid lacquer base — nail polish and nail lacquer are the highest-volume e-commerce case.
- Water-based paint with no flash point below 60 °C is not a dangerous good. The flash point is what decides, so it must be supplied.
- Paint in an aerosol dispenser is UN1950 Aerosols, not this entry.
UN1266 Perfumery products with flammable solvents
- Fine fragrance is typically 60–85% ethanol, so it is almost always a Class 3 dangerous good even though it looks like an ordinary cosmetic.
- A perfume in an aerosol dispenser with a propellant is UN1950 Aerosols instead.
UN1090 Acetone
- Acetone-based nail polish remover ships under this entry when acetone predominates; acetone-free removers may not be regulated at all.
UN1950 Aerosols, flammable
- Aerosols have no packing group. A flammable propellant — butane, propane, isobutane, DME — makes the article Division 2.1 whatever the payload is.
- Aerosols with a capacity of 1 L or less are the classic limited-quantity case under 49 CFR 173.306, which is what makes ground shipment practical.
UN2984 Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous solution with not less than 8% but less than 20% hydrogen peroxide
- Hair developers are the highest-volume consumer case in this band.
Questions
- What UN number applies to personal care and cosmetics?
- Most cosmetics are water-based and unregulated. The exceptions are alcohol-heavy products (perfume, hand sanitiser, nail polish), aerosols, and peroxide hair developers.
- What do people get wrong about shipping personal care and cosmetics?
- An aerosol version of an unregulated product is regulated. Classify the formulation and the dispenser, not the product category.
- Which entries does Classify7 encode for personal care and cosmetics?
- UN1170 Ethanol solution (class 3); UN1219 Isopropanol (class 3, packing group II); UN1263 Paint or Paint related material (class 3); UN1266 Perfumery products with flammable solvents (class 3); UN1090 Acetone (class 3, packing group II); UN1950 Aerosols, flammable (class 2.1); UN2984 Hydrogen peroxide, aqueous solution with not less than 8% but less than 20% hydrogen peroxide (class 5.1, packing group III)
Classify your actual product
Which of these entries applies depends on the formulation, not the category. Send the product and Classify7 returns the entry with the evidence that selected it — or tells you which measurement it needs first.
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